alice, bancorp

We find that claims 1–8, 11, and 13–25 are directed to a mathematical algorithm for calculating the modular inverse of a value, i.e., an abstract idea. The Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed that fundamental concepts, by themselves, are ineligible abstract ideas. Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l, 573 U.S. ___, No. 13-298, slip op. 1 at 10 (June 19, 2014). We recognize that independent claims 1, 14, and 18 conclude with an intended use clause “used for a cryptographic application” that applies the mathematical calculation steps to a specific application. A claim may be patent eligible if it includes additional inventive features such that the claim scope does not solely capture the abstract idea. Alice Corp., 573 U.S. ___, slip op. at 6. A claim reciting an abstract idea, however, does not become eligible “merely by adding the words ‘apply it.’” Bancorp Servs., LLC v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Can. (U.S.), 687 F.3d 1266, 1276 (Fed. Cir. 2012).